What does snuffing mean?
“Snuffing” is an English word with several related but distinct uses. Its most familiar sense is the act of extinguishing a candle or flame by smothering it, as in “snuffing out the lights.” The word can also describe taking powdered tobacco into the nose, or more generally smelling or sniffing at something; these uses are now largely historical in ordinary speech. In informal or euphemistic contexts, “snuffing” can mean dying, especially in the expression “snuffing it.” The word is useful because it links practical language about candles with older habits and figurative expressions about death. Its pronunciation is /ˈsnʌfɪŋ/, and it is used in both British and American English, though the extinguishing sense has a distinctly literary quality. In most current writing, readers are most likely to encounter it in descriptions of candles, lamps, or flames being put out.
As a verb, snuffing means extinguishing a flame, candle, or light by smothering it. It can also mean taking powdered tobacco into the nose, smelling or sniffing something, or, informally, dying.
"He snuffed out the cigarette and opened the window."
The extinguishing sense is standard and somewhat literary; the tobacco and sniffing senses are uncommon outside historical or specialized contexts. “Snuffing it” is informal and euphemistic.
As a noun, snuffing denotes the act of extinguishing a flame or candle, taking snuff, or, in informal euphemistic use, dying.
"The snuffing of the final candle marked the end of the ceremony."
The noun is usually used in the singular or as a gerund; plural usage is uncommon.
The plural is rare; the noun is normally singular or used as a gerund.
"The successive snuffings of the lamps filled the room with a faint, acrid smell."
The same word could once mean taking tobacco snuff and putting out a candle, making “snuffing” a compact reminder that English words can carry several surprising histories at once.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snuffing come from?
The word belongs to the English family of “snuff.” The powdered tobacco called snuff was borrowed from Dutch “snuif,” while the related verb developed in English for smelling with the nose and taking snuff. The sense meaning to extinguish a flame or candle became established in the seventeenth century, when a candle was commonly put out by smothering its flame. The same root also produced words such as “snuffbox” and “snuffer,” a tool used to extinguish a candle or flame.
How snuffing is actually used
The extinguishing sense is standard and literary in tone, while the tobacco and sniffing senses are now mostly historical or uncommon. The sense meaning dying is informal and euphemistic, and is often associated with the phrase “snuffing it.”
Easily confused with snuffing
Snuff is the base word and can mean either the powdered tobacco placed in the nose or the act of extinguishing a flame, whereas snuffing usually indicates one of those actions in progress.